Method and device for providing at least one fuel, in particular, for motor vehicle engines

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method and device ( 100  or  100′ ) for providing at least one fuel, in particular, for motor vehicle engines. The invention enables fuel to be produced, in particular, in the form of hydrogen, according to needs, and in a simple, economical, clean and safe manner and, furthermore, preferably on-board a means of transportation. According to the invention, at least one mixture consisting of water (H 2 ) and ammonium nitrite (NH 2 NO 2 ) and/or ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ), which serve(s) as a reaction constituent, is introduced as a fuel or fuel mixture into at least one, in particular, second reaction space ( 40 ′). In addition, en air (Lu), oxygen (O 2 ) and/or ozone (O 3 ) are supplied to this mixture, which is located in the, in particular, second reaction space ( 40 ′) and rendered unstable due to charge transfer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method as well as a device for makingavailable at least one fuel, in particular for engines of motorvehicles; in particular this invention relates to a method as well as adevice for making available fuel in form of hydrogen.

PRIOR ART

In view of the increasing shortage of the fossil energy carriersressources and by reason of the more and more pressing becomingnecessity of reducing the climatically relevant discharge of carbondioxide (═CO₂=so-called “greenhouse gas”) as well as other climaticallyrelevant emissions, hydrogen can be considered as one of the mostpromising energy carriers of the future.

Hydrogen reacts by direct combustion as well also as in fuel cells withoxygen to pure water and releases by this reaction a high usable energywithout emitting carbon dioxide as, for example, carbon containingfossil energy carriers do. This fact makes hydrogen very attractive withrespect to a lasting environmentally acceptable energy supply.

During the combustion of hydrogen with air in internal combustionengines and in gas turbines (no pure oxygen), only very low tonegligeable emissions develop if the combustion is carried outappropriately. Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides can, if there are any,only develop in traces, this being due to the combustion of engine oilin the combustion chamber of internal combustion engines. Emissions ofnitrogen oxide (NO_(x)) increase exponentially with the combustiontemperature and cannot thus be influenced by appropriate processcontrol.

Since now hydrogen offers more freedom than other fuels, a manifestreduction of the nitrogen oxide emissions compared to mineral oils ornatural gas is possible as far as a low combustion temperature isachieved (for example with a high lean mixture). Particle and sulphuremissions will be completely avoided, except slight rests originatingfrom the lubricants.

When using hydrogen in fuel cell driving gears with low temperature fuelcells, all the emissions of polluants are completely avoided. As areaction product by the current production from hydrogen and air oxygen,there only develops demineralized water. The use of hydrogen in fuelcells of higher temperature level causes—compared with conventional heatmachines—emissions which are lower as far as by a factor 100.

Combined with water, hydrogen exists, due to the closed water circuit,in unlimited quantity on the planet earth. Thus, differently from thefossil fuels, it cannot come to a ressources shortage of hydrogen.

However, as for hydrogen one has to consider that its making availableis not quite simple to realize at places and in situations in which itis just required at all. In this context, so-called hydrogen servicestations are proposed again and again at which a means of locomotion, inparticular a motor vehicle can be supplied with hydrogen. This being, itmust be taken into account that such hydrogen service stations are notcommon at all, at least nowadays, but on the contrary that they arerather an absolute exception so that this proposal is not accessible atleast to a mass market.

Furthermore, one has to consider as to a drive with hydrogen that thecarrying along of hydrogen on board the means of locomotion is not onlyunpractical and expensive, because of the high need of storage volumerequired, but is also relatively dangerous because it is not safe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: AIM, SOLUTION, ADVANTAGES

Starting from the disadvantages and shortcomings depicted above as wellas on assessment of the outlined prior art, the aim of this invention isto make available a device for making available fuel, in particular inform of hydrogen, by means of which the fuel, in particular in form ofhydrogen, can be produced depending on the needs as well as in a simple,low cost, clean and safe way, namely on board a means of locomotion.

This aim is achieved by a method with the characteristics indicated inclaim 1 or in claim 2 or in claim 4 as well by a device with thecharacteristics indicated in claim 10 or in claim 11 or in claim 13.Preferable configurations and appropriate improvements of this inventionare characterized respectively in the subclaims.

According to the teachings of this invention, the making available ofthe fuel (hereunter the term “fuel” comprises within the scope of thisinvention also the “fuel mixture”), in particular of the hydrogen (H₂)serving as a fuel in such a way that advantageously not only triatomicozone (O₃) and/or catalytically effective ammonia (NH₃) are added to thewater (H₂O) originating from a water tank or water reservoir but alsofirst of all nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)) such as, for example, nitrogenmonoxide (NO) or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).

In this context, the nitrogen oxides (NO_(x)) serve for an appropriatemultistage catalyzing or a catalytic conversion by which the water (H₂O)is brought to an unstable or not stable state or ammonium nitrite(NH₄NO₂) and/or ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) is dissolved in water (H₂O) ina certain concentration preferably adjustable by means of a regulatingand control device.

This “very instable” or “very unstable” water, preferably mixed to theeasily splittable ammonium nitrite or ammonium nitrate can then besplitted under considerably easier conditions as well as with a minimalexpenditure of energy, for example of energy made available by an usual12 volt car battery, whereby an electrolytic splitting by formingnitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂) and hydrogen (=fuel H₂) can be appropriate.This means in other words that the instable water or the instableammonium nitrite and/or ammonium nitrate is accessible to acorresponding cracking or is very receptive for this cracking.

In order to be able to crack this instable water or this instableammonium nitrite and/or ammonium nitrate on molecular level in aparticularly energy poor way, it can be appropriate according to aninventive improvement of this method to separate the diamagneticfractions of the instable water or of the instable ammonium nitriteand/or ammonium nitrate from the paramagnetic fractions of the instablewater or of the instable ammonium nitrite and/or ammonium nitrate.

In this context, by a diamagnetic substance, we understand a substance,the (dimensionless) relative permeability of which μ_(r) is lower thanone and the (dimensionless) magnetic susceptibility κ (=μ_(r)−1) ofwhich is lower than one, whereas by a paramagnetic substance weunderstand a substance, the (dimensionless relative) permeability μ_(r)is higher than one or the (dimensionless) magnetic susceptibility κ(=μ_(r)−1) of which is higher than zero.

The expert in the field of the fuel production and of the fuelutilization, in particular in the field of hydrogen production andhydrogen utilization, for example a chemical engineer with technicalknowledge in the field of hydrogen drives, will appreciate with respectto this invention in particular that, taking this invention as a basis,there is no longer a need for a volume intensive and thus unpractical,expensive and unsafe keeping and storage of fuel, in particular ofhydrogen, on board a means of locomotion; on the contrary, thisinvention makes it possible to produce the fuel, in particular hydrogen,on demand, this means depending on the concrete need in the requiredquantity and place like, for example, on board the means of locomotion.

If we take a range of the means of locomotion of approximately onehundred kilometers per liter water as a basis, in a manner essential tothe invention, it can be easily seen that the system made available bythis invention on the basis of water as a fuel is not only extremelyinexpensive but also very safe (in any case safer than the carryingalong of motor fuels obtained from fossil energy carriers with a givenexplosion hazard of the tank content).

In view of the more and more pressing problem of the so-called“greenhouse effect”, i.e. of the temperature rise of the earthatmosphere because of carbon dioxide emissions, a further essentialadvantage of this invention is to be seen in that, if the combustion iscarried out appropriately, there practically does not develop anydeleterious emission; there results rather only pure water as emissionor by-product of the whole procedure so that the described method aswell as the described device according to this invention are absolutely“waste gas free” in the sense of pollution free.

As a further improvement made possible by this invention, it should benoted that the locomotion can take place independently of fuel servicestations, in particular of hydrogen service stations. Since the fuelnecessary for the locomotion, in particular hydrogen, can be produced,according to a particularly inventive improvement, directly anddepending on the needs, on board the means of locomotion, a widespreadcost intensive infrastructure of refilling stations for the fuel, inparticular hydrogen, can be renounced to; on the contrary the makingavailable takes place by means of the compact and safe device for makingavailable fuel, in particular in form of hydrogen, on board.

According to an advantageous configuration of this invention, the devicecan be integrated into existing production courses and systems of meansof locomotion. This being, a revision and modifiying of existingconcepts (so-called “reengineering) is in fact possible and, if need be,also necessary. However, the fundamental layout, the design as well asthe concept of the existing (four cycle) internal combustion engines canbe maintained.

This means in other words that this invention can be applied withrespect to the unit operation as well as to the configuration of thedevice to all types not only of internal combustion engines (from theclassic, naturally sucked carburetor system to the high techniquecomputer controlled fuel injection system) but also of turbines. Notleast due to this, a broad mass market can be opened up.

In this context, by means of this method and/or by this device, at leastas much fuel, in particular hydrogen, is made available so that a (morethan) sufficient supply of the internal combustion engine or also of theturbine is guaranteed in any case.

According to an improvement of this method which is essential to theinvention as well as of this device, the fuel made available, inparticular hydrogen, must not absolutely be immediately utilized, forexample burnt; according to this invention, the fuel, in particularhydrogen, can rather be produced also for a temporary keeping andstorage, for example in at least one fuel cell, in order to be able tobe supplied to its proper destination at a later time.

These options of the keeping and storage do exist also according to theinvention for too much fuel produced by means of this method and/or thisdevice, i.e. for excess fuel, in particular hydrogen, produced in therespective use or application.

According to an advantageous configuration of this method as well as ofthis device, not required liquid constituents can be taken away from theflow of material and be taken back into the circuit. To this, at leastone recirculation unit configured as a water trap can be appropriatelyprovided which serves as a kind of filter for all the liquidconstituents which are concomitant with the fuel, in particularhydrogen, after the splitting of the instable water. These liquidconstituents are collected by this water trap so that it is guaranteedthat exclusively fuel, in particular hydrogen gas, and eventuallyconcomittant ammoniac as well as oxygen gas come in the internalcombustion engine or in the gas turbine.

In an advantageous improvement, the fuel or the instable water or theammonium nitrite and/or the ammonium nitrate can be pumped

-   -   to at least one fuel cell and/or    -   to at least one fuel buffer store and/or    -   to at least one fuel buffer tank or respectively    -   to at least one second reaction chamber, in particular to at        least one converter unit or converter chamber.

Thus, it is guaranteed that the wished fuel quantity, in particularhydrogen quantity, is available at any time so that a potential dying ofthe internal combustion engine or of the gas turbine can be realiablyexcluded.

This invention finally relates to the use of the fuel, in particularhydrogen, produced according to the method depicted above and/or bymeans of the device depicted above, within the scope of mobileapplications or within the scope of stationary applications such as, forexample

-   -   for driving at least one internal combustion engine, for example        an Otto engine, a diesel engine, a Wankel engine or the like,        assigned to a means of locomotion, in particular a motor        vehicle, and/or    -   for driving at least one gas turbine and/or    -   for making available as a fuel tank in at least one fuel cell        and/or    -   for heating purposes and/or    -   for the use in at least one hydrogen burning device.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As already discussed above, there are various possibilities to configureand improve advantageously the teachings of this invention. To this,reference is made on the one hand to the claims subordinate to theclaims 1, 2 and 4 as well as 10, 11 and 13, on the other hand furtherconfigurations, characteristics and advantages of this invention areexplained below with the aid of the embodiments illustrated by the FIGS.1A to 5.

FIG. 1A shows a schematical logic diagram of a first embodiment of adevice for making available fuel in form of hydrogen according to thisinvention.

FIG. 1B shows a schematical logic diagram of a second embodiment of adevice for making available fuel in form of a fuel mixture according tothis invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a water tank unit assigned to the device ofFIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic logic diagramm of an electric switching circuitassigned to the device of FIGS. 1A and 1B, and here in particular to agas generator unit.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a reaction unit assigned to thedevice of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a separation unit assigned to the device ofFIG. 1A.

Like or similar configurations, elements or characteristics are providedin FIG. 1A to 5 with identical reference numbers.

BEST WAY FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1A, a first embodiment of a device 100 for making available fuelin form of hydrogen H₂ is shown which makes use of the method accordingto this invention. This device 100 is mounted in a motor vehicle knownper se (which is not explicitly represented for more clarity of therepresentation in FIG. 1A) and serves for supplying this motor vehicle,in particular its internal combustion chamber 90 (so-called combustionchamber) in any operating state with a sufficient quantity of operatingmeans (“fuel”, “motor fuel”) in form of hydrogen H₂.

A water tank unit 10 (so-called H₂O tank, see FIG. 2), which is made ofnoncorroding material, for example fiber glass or polyethylene orstainless steel, is filled with conventional non treated tap water orwith demineralized water; this water H₂O comes into a reaction unit 30placed behind the water tank unit 10 (so-called reactor, see FIG. 4).Furthermore, nitrogen oxides NO_(x) such as, for exemple nitrogenmonoxide NO or nitrogen dioxide NO₂ as well as triatomic ozone O₃ areled into this reaction unit.

The nitrogen oxides NO_(x) as well as the triatomic ozone O₃ will beobtained in a gas generator unit 20 (so-called triatomic generator)placed before the reaction unit 30, among others by conversion ofatmospheric nitrogen N₂ as well as atmospheric oxygen O₂. Here, a firststage 20 a of the gas generator unit 20 is destined for the fabricationof the nitrogen oxides NO_(x), in particular of the nitrogen dioxideNO₂; a second stage 20 b of the gas generator unit 20 serves forfabricating the ozone O₃.

An electric switching circuit 22 (so-called triatomic circuit, see FIG.3) is an integral constituent of the gas generator unit 20, inparticular of the first stage 20 a of the gas generator unit 20, wherebythe fundamental function of this circuit is to be seen in thetransformation of a direct current voltage supplied by an energy source24 (see FIG. 3) with a low voltage which can be switched on by means ofa switch 2422, for example in form of a voltage source of for exampletwelve volt, into a high voltage formed for example in form ofrectangular pulses of a range of at least approximately 30000 volt(other configurations of this invention allow also high voltages of arange of less than approximately 30 000 volt).

In detail, for this electric switching circuit 22, an astable oscillatoris placed around a 555 timer IC (IC=integrated circuit) indicated by thereference numealr 2202. The oscillation frequency is adjusted by meansof the capacitor 2210 (exemplary range: 100 nanofarad) as well as bymeans of three resistors 2212 (exemplary range: 10 kiloohms), 2214(exemplary range: 27 kiloohms) and 2216 (exemplary range: 100 kiloohms;variable) to 120 Hertz. The output signal assigned to this part of theelectric switching circuit 22 is a sequence of rectangular signals witha maximal amplitude in the range of the input or supply voltage oftwelve volts.

The function as well as the mode of operation of the oscillator part ofthe electric switching circuit 22 will be explained in detail below.Directly after charging with the input or supply voltage of twelve voltsdelivered by the car battery 24, the voltage at the capacitor 2210, thecapacity of which can move for example in the range of approximately 0,1microfarad, can correspond substantially to the earth potential [theswitching in of further capacitors 2290 (exemplary range: 100nanofarad), 2292 (exemplary range: 222 microfarad) and 2294 (exemplaryrange: 4,7 nanofarad) can be seen in FIG. 3].

This voltage will be detected by the time based trigger comparator atthe input connection 2204 of the timer 2202 so that an internalflip-flop of the timer 2202 is set, what again results in the fact thatthe input voltage at the outlet connection 2208 of the timer 2202increases or remains at the voltage level of the supply voltage oftwelve volts.

Subsequently, the discharge transistor is switched off so that thecapacitor 2210 can charge over the three resistors 2212 (exemplaryrange: 10 kiloohms), 2214 (exemplary range: 27 kiloohms) and 2216(exemplary range: 100 kiloohms). The capacitor 2210 comes nearer bycharging in this context to the supply voltage of twelve volts, wherebyhowever, when two thirds of the supply voltage have been reached, i.e.when reaching approximately eight volts, a threshold comparator isactivated at the input connection 2206 of the timer 2202.

This results in a reset of the internal flip-flop and the outlet voltageat the outlet connection 2208 of the timer 2202 falls back to the levelof the earth potential. The discharge transistor then turns to theconductive state so that the capacitor 2210 discharges over theresistors 2216 and 2214 until the voltage at the capacitor 2210 fallsback to approximately one third of the supply voltage, i.e. toapproximately four volts; at this level, the trigger comparator switchesthe outlet connection 2208 of the timer 22202 again into the high state(or into a state close to the supply voltage of twelve volts) and thecycle begins again.

The output signals at the outlet connection 2208 of the timer 2202 arefed to the clock input connection 2222 of a 74C74 D-type flip-flopindicated by the reference number 2220. This integrated circuit has adouble function: on the one hand, the frequency of the timer 2202 ishalved in “like parts” by the flip-flop 2220 so that an output signal ofnominal sixty Hertz develops; on the other hand, the flip-flop 2220makes two complementary output connections 2224 and 2226 simultaneouslyavailable which are required by the subsequent switching circuit.

The part of the subsequent switching circuit to which the output signalsof the flip-flop 2220 are fed, consists of buffer transistors 2234 and2238. In this context, resistors 2232 (exemplary range: 3,3 kiloohms) or2236 (exemplary range: 3,3 kiloohms), assigned to the two buffertransistors 2234 or 2238, limit the current conduction to the base ofthe respective buffer transistors 2234 or 2238 to a safe value.Resistors 2242 (exemplary range: one kiloohm) are as so-called pull-upresistors assigned to the respective collector of the buffer transistors2234 or 2238.

The outlet signals of the buffer transistors 2234 or 2238 arerespectively connected with so-called push-pull transistors which areformed respectively by pairs of transistors 2252, 2254 and/ortransistors 2256, 2258. This being, the p-n-p transistors 2252 or 2256serve as driving transistors 2254 and/or 2258, i.e. the current demandof the main power transistors is covered by the p-n-p transistors 2252and/or 2256 so that a complete saturation state can be achieved.

The driver current intensities made available by the p-n-p transistors2252 and/or 2256 can—depending on the charge connected over the outputof the inverter—amount up to five amperes. Various appropriatelyselected resistors 2262 (exemplary range: 49 kiloohms), 2264 (exemplaryrange: 49 kiloohms), 2266 (exemplary range: 330 ohms), 2268 (exemplaryrange: 330 ohms) 2272 and 2274 are connected in front of the singletransistors 2252, 2254 and/or 2256, 2258, or are switched intermediatelyor after them.

The transistors 2254 and 2258, which are switched together in theso-called push pull mode, charge alternately the respectively assignedhalf 2284, 2284′ of the primary coil 2282 of a transformer 2280 withcurrent. Alternate current conduction means in this context that thecontact to the one transistor 2254 or 2258 is interrupted when the othertransistor 2258 or 2254 is just in the complete saturation state (andvice-versa).

Due to this alternate switching of both transistors 2254 and 2258, amagnetic field is generated in the transformer core 2286 in the courseof magnetic induction, this magnetic field causing an energy transfer toa secondary coil 2288. Due to the corresponding selection of the ratioof the number of turns of the primary coil 2282 to the number of turnsof the secondary coil 2288, a high voltage formed for example in form ofrectangular pulses of a range of at least approximately 30000 volt canbe taken on the secondary coil.

Air, i.e. as well the starting product atmospheric nitrogen N₂ as thestarting product atmospheric oxygen O₂, passes through a series ofelectric discharges in the course of high voltage electric arcs whichare generated by the high voltage or the range of at least approximately30000 volt made available by the electric circuit.

This results in the fact that nitrogen N₂ is atomized, i.e. splitted andcombines with the oxygen atoms by supplying high temperatures accordingto the equationN₂+O₂→2NOto nitrogen monoxide (endothermic reaction with ΔH=+90,4 kilojoule promole).

The nitrogen monoxide NO generated in this manner in the gas generatorunit 20 oxidises from the air oxygen O₂ immedialetly to nitrogen NO₂because of the uneven number of electrons in the NO molecule (at leastone electron is unpaired) so that finally (besides ozone O₃) nitrogendioxide NO₂ arrives in the reaction unit 30; this nitrogen dioxide NO₂is freely soluble in water H₂O.

In a second stage 20 b of the gas generator unit 20 destined forproducing ozone O₃, the two biatomic oxygen molecules O₂ will beconverted by means of cold electric discharge according to the equation3O₂-->2O₃in stronger reactive triatomic ozone molecules O₃ (endothermic reactionwith ΔH=+68 kilogram calories pro mole). The use of ozone O₃ produced inthat way will still be dealt with in detail below.

In the reaction unit 30, by adding ozone O₃, the water H₂O is now setinto a state which is to be characterized as instable in particularhowever because of the catalytic effect of the nitrogen oxides No_(x),whereby the water H₂O, the ozone O₃ and the nitrogen oxides NO_(x) aremixed thoroughly and continuously by means of an appropriate mixingand/or stirring device.

In this context, by the reaction of the water H₂O with the mainlyexisting nitrogen dioxide NO₂, not only hydroxyl ions OH are formed in amanner essential to the invention (namely whereby the nitrogen oxidesNO_(x) take a hydrogen atom H⁺ from each water molecule H₂O) but also aseries of nitrogen containing compounds such as, for example, dinitrogenmonoxide N₂O, nitrous acid HNO₂ or nitric acid HNO₃; in these nitrogencontaining compounds, the nitrogen atom is in low oxidation states.

The nitrogen containing compounds, among them further also nitrogenmonoxide NO and dinitrogen dioxide NO₂ as nitrogen N₂ itself, react withthe water H₂O by charge transfer to elementar nitrogen ions (=proton H⁺)as well as to negatively charged nitrogen peroxide ions NO₃ for exampleaccording to the the following reactions:H₂O+NO₂-->2H⁺ +NO ₃—H₂O+HNO₂-->3H⁺ +NO ₃—2H₂O+NO-->4H⁺ +NO ₃—3H₂O+NH₄-->10H⁺ +NO ₃—5H₂O+N₂O-->10H⁺+2NO₃—6H₂O+N₂-->12H⁺+2 NO₃—

The nitrogen containing compounds above can be a product of thereactions of oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms in the raction unit 30,whereby the ambient conditions such as, for example pressure,temperature and/or electric current conduction, to which the nitrogencontaining compounds are exposed, have a significant influence. But theinstable water is receptive not only for the influences of pressure,temperature and/or electric current conduction but also for other forcessuch as, for example, gravitation, magnetism and/or the like, which leadto a molecular cracking.

Since now the nitrogen oxides NO_(x) are dissolved in the water H₂Ooriginating from the water tank unit 10, the aforesaid reactions can besomehow interpretated as by-products of the chemical reactions. To thispurpose, the instable water molecules are splitted in a separation unit40 (so-called molecule splitter, see FIG. 5) placed behind the reactionunit 30 into oxygen O₂ and into the hydrogen H₂ acting as a fuel. Thisbeing, for splitting the instable water in the separation unit 40 atmolecular level, the diamagnetic fractions of the instable water areseparated from the paramagnetic fractions of the instable water.

For this at least partially electrolytic splitting or separation step, asource of energy 24, for example in form of voltage source of forexample twelve volts, is assigned to the separation unit 40; preferablythis source of energy 24 is the same source of energy by means of whichthe direct voltage to be converted into high potential differences of arange of approximately 30000 volt is made available to the gas generatorunit 20 for the electric circuit (so-called triatomic circuit).

In order to cause this splitting or cracking, the separation unit 40 hasat least two electrodes 42 made for example of aluminium or of copper,the corresponding points of which have only a very small distance fromeach other, and which are set glowing at temperatures of approximately1000 degrees Celsius or more by voltage charging by the correspondingsource of energy 24 which is for example at least one commercial carbattery.

At these temperatures, the ammonia NH₃ volatilizes by burning or boilingand the solution mixed with ions remains in which, due to the electriccurrent conduction between the glowing electrode points (which can becompared with an electric arc by welding under water), the molecules areseparated into their individual elements. This falls all the more easierthan, with this invention, the latent energy of the single instablemolecule to be splitted will be overloaded by the transition of theelectrons concentrated at the point of the electrode 42 (so-called pointeffect) so that the dispersion forces (so-called London forces) areovercome. In this way, considerably less energy than conventionally isrequired for splitting the single molecule.

A recirculation unit 50 (so-called water trap), serving in some way as afilter, provided for withdrawing liquid constituents from the fuel, isplaced behind the separation unit 40; by means of this recirculationunit, all the liquid constituents such as for example the nitrogendioxide NO₂, the nitrous acid HNO₂ or the nitric acid HNO₃ as well asthe water H₂O itself can be extracted from the fuel current (=gaseoushydrogen current) and returned to the reaction unit 30.

For this purpose, the recirculation unit 50 is always filled to arelatively constant level with water H₂O, whereby due to the carryingoff of the liquid constituents such as, for example, nitrogen dioxideNO₂, nitrous acid HNO₂ or nitric acid HNO₃ as well as water H₂O itself,there is a permanent need of the recirculation unit 50 of “fresh” waterH₂O, as can be seen in the representation of FIG. 1A.

In this way, a durable remaining of the catalytic nitrogen containingconstituents in the circuit defined by the reaction unit 30, theseparation unit 40 and the recirculation unit 50 is guaranteed; in otherwords, due to the arrangement of the recirculation unit 50, it isguaranteed thats besides the gaseous fuel H₂, exclusively more or lessunintentionally remaining gaseous substances, such as ammonia NH₃ oroxygen O₂, arrive to the combustion chamber 90.

A fuel pump unit 60 (so-called fuel pump) is placed downstream to therecirculation unit 50; by means of this pump unit the fuel can be pumpedfrom the separation unit 40 to a fuel buffer tank 70 (so-called buffertank) placed downstream to the fuel pump unit 60. Due to this fuel pumpunit 60, it is reliably guaranteed that at any time the necessary fuelquantity (=hydrogen quantity) is made available so that a not sufficientsupply of the combustion chamber 90 and thus a “dying” of the internalcombustion engine (or also of the gas turbine) are avoided.

The above mentioned fuel buffer tank 70 has substantially the samepurposes (sufficient supplying of the combustion chamber 90 with fueland thus avoiding of the dying of the internal combustion engine or ofthe gas turbine), whereby the gaseous hydrogen H₂ transferred from theseparation unit 40 can be stored and from which the hydrogen H₂ can berequested if need be, i.e. on demand.

The fuel buffer tank 70 acting as an intermediate store has an exemplarymaximal content of two hundred milliliters (liquid) hydrogen H₂ so that,for a constant hydrogen production, a variation of the number of turns(of the engine) within small limits caused by the combustion chamber isalso possible. In this context, the fuel buffer tank 70 has animportance essential for the invention for securing a sufficient supplyof the combustion chamber 90 with fuel H₂ during an acceleration of themotor vehicle and in higher r.p.m. ranges of the motor vehicle.

A fuel regulating unit 80 which regulates the quantity ratio or mixtureratio of hydrogen H₂ fed from the fuel buffer tank 70 and ozone O₃ fedfrom the gas generator unit 20 is placed behind the fuel buffer tank 70before this mixture enters the combustion chamber 90. This fuelregulating unit 80 is configured, for example, in form of an electroniccontrol in order to adapt the hydrogen production to the hydrogenconsumption of the combustion chamber 90; consequently, a “stepping onthe gas” is possible for the combustion chamber 90.

It can be seen in the logic diagram of FIG. 1A that the gas generatorunit 20 can deliver the ozone O₃ not only to the reaction unit 30 butalso to a great extent even also to the fuel regulating unit 80; to thispurpose, it is advantageous to configure the gas generator unit 20 intwo parts or in form of two separate stages 20 a, 20 b (see FIG. 1A) orof two separate components.

The background of the supply of ozone O₃ to the combustion chamber 90 isto be seen, among others, in the fact that by means of the ozoneO₃—differently from the oxygen O₂—a more or less residue freecombustion, i.e. in particular waste gas free and polluant free, cantake place in the combustion chamber 90 because with the ozone O₃ fedfrom the gas generator unit 20, the gaseous ammonia NH₃ carried by thegas flow transporting the energy carrier hydrogen H₂ burns (almost)completely to nitrogen N₂ and to water H₂O.

Moreover, due to the use of the triatomic ozone O₃ as an oxidizingagent, the capacity of this device 100 can be considerably increased,not last because the triatomic ozone O₃ quicker reacts as biatomicoxygen O₂ and secures a higher making available of energy as well as avery low fuel consumption.

FIG. 1B represents schematically a second embodiment of a device 100′for making available a fuel (mixture) which makes also use of the methodaccording to this invention. As far as not corresponding explanations ofthe second embodiment of the device 100′ according to FIG. 1B are madebelow, for avoiding unnecessary repetitions concerning theconfigurations, the elements, characteristics and/or advantages of thesecond embodiment of the device 100′ according to FIG. 1B, reference ismade to the corresponding explanations of the first embodiment of thedevice 100 according to FIG. 1A.

A water tank unit 10 (so-called H₂O tank, see FIG. 2), which is made ofnoncorroding material, for example of fiber glass or polyethylene orstainless steel, is filled with conventional not treated tap water ordemineralized water; this water H₂O arrives into a first reactionchamber 30′ placed behind the water tank unit 10. Furthermore, nitrogenoxides NO_(x) such as, for example nitrogen monoxide NO or above allnitrogen dioxide NO₂ as well as nitrous acid HNO₂ or nitric acid HNO₃and/or ammonia NH₃ are led into this first reaction chamber 30′.

The nitrogen oxides NO_(x) are obtained in a first chamber 20 a′ from agas generator unit 20 (so-called triatomic generator) placed before thefirst reaction chamber 30′, among others by converting atmosphericnitrogen N₂ as well as atmospheric oxygen O₂ (=catalytic decompositionof air Lu, see FIG. 1B). In this context, it must be taken into accountthat the nitrogen monoxide NO generated in the gas generator unit 20 isoxidized by atmospheric oxygen O₂ immediately to nitrogen dioxide NO₂ sothat in the first reaction chamber 30′ finally nitrogen dioxide NO₂arrives; this nitrogen dioxide NO₂ is freely soluble in water H₂O.

Alternatively or additionally to the catalytic decomposition of air Lu,the nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular the nitrogen dioxide NO₂,can also be generated by dissociating the nitric acid HNO₃ into nitrogendioxide NO₂, into water H₂O and into oxygen O₂.

Moreover, ozone O₃ is made available by a second chamber 20 b′ of thegas generator unit 20; however, in the second embodiment of the device100′ according to FIG. 1B, this ozone O₃ is not passed into the firstreaction chamber 30′ but is fed over a pump unit 62 configured as anozone pump unit directly to a second reaction chamber 40′ (which willstill be explained below).

With respect to the making available of the nitrogen-hydrogen compound,in particular of the ammonia NH₃, according to the invention there isthe further option to feed to the first reaction chamber 30′ thehydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular the nitrous acid HNO₂and/or the nitric acid HNO₃, for forming the ammonia NH₃, in particularwith the participation of a metal, for example zinc Zn (see FIG. 1B).

By conversion of

-   -   the water H₂O originating from the water tank unit 10,    -   the added nitrous acid HNO₂ and/or nitric acid HNO₃,    -   the added catalytically acting ammonia NH3 as well as    -   the nitrogen oxides NO_(x), in particular of the nitrogen        dioxide NO₂,        the compound ammonium nitrite NH₄NO₂ and/or ammonium nitrate        NH₄NO₃, which can be characterized as being very instable, is        formed. To this purpose, the water H₂O, the nitrous acid HNO₂ or        the nitric acid HNO₃ and/or the ammonia NH₃ as well as the        nitrogen acids NO_(x), in particular the nitrogen dioxide NO₂,        are mixed thoroughly and continuously in the first reaction        chamber 30′ by means of an appropriate mixing and/or stirring        device.

Therefore, in the first reaction chamber 30′, due to charge transfer,the water H₂O is set into a state which has to be characterized asinstable, by reason of the catalytic effect of the nitrogen oxidesNO_(x), in particular of the nitrogen dioxide NO₂.

A pump unit 60 is placed behind the first reaction chamber 30′, pumpunit by means of which the ammonium nitrite NH₄NO₂ and/or the ammoniumnitrate NH₄NO₃ in liquid form, i.e. dissolved in water, can betransported from the first reaction chamber 30′ by pumping to the secondreaction chamber 40′ (so-called fuel converter) placed behind the pumpunit 60.

In order to adapt the concentration of the ammonium nitrite NH₄NO₂and/or ammonium nitrate NH₄NO₃ in the water H₂O to the fuel needs forexample of the engine of a motor vehicle or to vary it depending on thefuel needs, for example of the engine of a motor vehicle, a regulatingor control device 32 is assigned to the end of the first reactionchamber 30′.

Due to the pump unit 60 which is made of noncorroding material, forexample of fiber glass or of thermoplastic material, it is reliablysecured that the necessary quantity of ammonium nitrite NH₄NO₂ and/orammonium nitrate NH₄NO₃ is available at any time so that a notsufficient supply of the second reaction chamber 40′ (-->as well as ofthe combustion chamber 90) and thus a “dying” of the internal combustionengine (or also of the gas turbine) are avoided.

Since now, as explained above, the nitrogen oxides NO, are dissolved inthe water H₂O, the reactions mentioned above can be interpreted somehowas by-prducts of the chemical reactions. To this, a critical pressure aswell as a critical temperature, for example in the range of 150 degreesCelsius to 200 degrees Celsius, is maintained in the second reactionchamber 40′ (so-called fuel converter) so that the ammonium nitriteNH₄NO₂ and/or ammonium nitrate NH₄NO₃ can be converted from the liquidstate to the gaseous state, as far as necessary and/or wished.

If the ammonium nitrite NH₄NO₂ and/or ammonium nitrate NH₄NO₃ is in thesecond reaction chamber 40′, thus in the gaseous state, a mixing withthe ozone O₃ can take place which is led to the second reaction chamber40′ from the second chamber 20 b′ of the gas generator unit 20. Thisbeing, it can be seen in the logic diagram of FIG. 1B that the secondchamber 20 b′ of the gas generator unit 20 does not deliver the ozone O₃to the first reaction chamber 30′ but over the ozone pump unit 62exclusively to the second reaction chamber 40′, to which purpose it isadvantageous to configure the gas generator unit 20 in two parts or inform of two separate chambers 20 a′, 20 b′ (see FIG. 1B) or of twoseparate components.

In this procedure stage, the gaseous instable ammonium nitrite NH₄NO₂and/or ammonium nitrate NH₄NO₃ is “atomized” now in the second reactionunit 40, i.e. it splits through heating in the second reaction chamber40′ into its elementary constituents nitrogen N₂, oxygen O₂ (ozone O₃)and hydrogen H₂ and thus becomes fuel.

This fuel is now fed on carburetor base or by direct injection to thecombustion chamber 90 in which, during the proper combustion of thefuel, the ozone O₃ reacts exothermally with the hydrogen H₂ (combustionexplosion); the very stable nitrogen N₂ is discharged with the watervapour appearing as a by-product of the combustion through an exhaust.

The background of the supply of ozone O₃ to the second reaction chamber40′ is to be seen, among others, in the fact that by means of ozoneO₃—differently from the oxygen O₂—a more or less residue freecombustion, i.e. in particular waste gas free and polluant free, cantake place in the combustion chamber 90 because with the ozone O₃ fedfrom the gas generator unit 20, the gaseous ammonia NH₃ carried by thegas flow transporting the energy carrier hydrogen H₂ burns (almost)completely to nitrogen N₂ and to water vapour H₂O.

Moreover, due to the use of the triatomic ozone O₃ as an oxidizingagent, the capacity of this device 100 can be considerably increased,not last because the triatomic ozone O₃ quicker reacts as biatomicoxygen O₂ and secures a higher making available of energy as well as avery low fuel consumption.

It is also in the scope of the second embodiment of a device 100′according to this invention to burn the produced fuel alternatively oradditionally to the ozone O₃ with simple atmospheric oxygen O₂ and/orwith air Lu.

Independently therefrom or combined herewith, it is furthermore withinthe scope of the second embodiment of a device 100′ according to thisinvention to configure the second reaction chamber 40′ and thecombustion chamber 90 as one unit or as one part, i.e. to let themcoincide spatially. In this case, the produced fuel is then directly fedinto the combustion chamber 90 configured as a second reaction unit andis there brought to a detonating gas explosion with air Lu, oxygen O₂and/or ozone O₃.

List of reference numerals

-   100 Device (first embodiment)-   100′ Device (second embodiment)-   10 Water tank unit-   20 Gas generator unit-   20 a First stage of the gas generator unit 20-   20 a′ First chamber or first part of the gas generator unit 20-   20 b Second stage of the gas generator unit 20-   20 b′ Second chamber or second part of the gas generator-   unit 20-   11 Electric switching circuit-   2202 Timer-   2204 Input connection of the timer 2202-   2206 Input connection of the timer 2202-   2208 Output connection of the timer 2202-   2210 Capacitor-   2212 Resistor-   2214 Resistor-   2216 Resistor-   2220 Flip-flop-   2222 Clock input connection of the flip-flop 2220-   2224 Output connection of the flip-flop 2220-   2226 Output connection of the flip-flop 2220-   2232 Resistor-   2234 Buffer transistor-   2236 Resistor-   2238 Buffer transistor-   2242 Resistor-   2244 Resistor-   2252 p-n-p transistor-   2254 Transistor-   2256 p-n-p transistor-   2258 Transistor-   2262 Resistor-   2264 Resistor-   2266 Resistor-   2268 Resistor-   2272 Resistor-   2274 Resistor-   2280 Transformer-   2282 Primary coil of the transformer 2280-   2284 First half of the primary coil 2282 of the transformer 2280-   2284′ Second half of the primary coil 2282 of the transformer 2280-   2286 Transformer core of the transformer 2290-   2288 Secondary coil of the transformer 2280-   2290 Capacitor-   2292 Capacitor-   2294 Capacitor-   24 Source of energy, in particular car battery-   2422 Switch between electric circuit 22 and source of energy 24-   30 Reaction unit-   30′ First reaction chamber-   32 Regulating or control device-   40 Separation unit-   40′ Second reaction chamber-   50 Recirculation unit-   60 First pump unit, in particular fuel pump unit-   62 Second pump unit, in particular ozone pump unit-   70 Fuel buffer tank-   80 Fuel regulating unit-   90 Combustion chamber

1. A method for making available fuel in form of hydrogen (H₂), whereinwater (H₂O) is brought into an instable state by adding ozone (O₃) aswell as with the participation of at least one catalyst and that thisinstable water splits by forming oxygen and hydrogen acting as fuel. 2.A method for making available fuel in form of hydrogen (H₂), whereinwater (H₂O) is brought into an instable state conditioned by chargetransfer by adding nitrogen oxide (NO_(x)) as well as ozone (O₃) andthat this instable water splits by forming oxygen (O₂) and hydrogen (H₂)acting as fuel.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein for splittingthe instable water energy, in particular low energy, is fed and/or atmolecular level, the diamagnetic fractions of the instable water areseparated from the paramagnetic fractions of the instable water.
 4. Amethod for making available at least one fuel or at least one fuelmixture, wherein in at least one reaction chamber, in particular asecond reaction chamber (40′), at least one mixture of water (H₂O) andammonium nitrite (NH₄NO₂) and/or ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) acting asreaction component is fed as fuel or fuel mixture and that air (Lu),oxygen (O₂) and/or ozone (O₃) is supplied in the reaction chamber, inparticular in the second reaction chamber (40′), to this mixture beingin an instable state due to charge transfer.
 5. A method according toclaim 4, that wherein the concentration of the ammonium nitrite (NH₄NO₂)and/or ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) in the water (H₂O) is adapted to thefuel needs, in particular at least to the needs of one engine of a motorvehicle, by regulating or controlling or depending on the fuel needs, inparticular at least of one engine of a motor vehicle.
 6. A methodaccording to claim 4, wherein in at least one first reaction chamber(30′) placed before the second reaction chamber (40′), at least onenitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), at leastone hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular nitrous acid (HNO₂)or nitric acid (HNO₃) and/or at least one nitrogen-hydrogen compound, inparticular ammonia (NH₃), as well as water (H₂O) are mixed together byforming the mixture which is in an instable state due to charge transferand which acts as fuel or fuel mixture.
 7. A method according to claim6, wherein the nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular the nitrogendioxide (NO₂), is produced by dissociation of nitric acid (HNO₃) intonitrogen dioxide (NO₂), into water (H₂O) and into oxygen (O₂) or bycatalytic decomposition of air (Lu).
 8. A method according to claim 6,wherein the hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular the nitrousacid (HNO₂) or the nitric acid (HNO₃), is fed to the first reactionchamber (30′) for forming the nitrogen-hydrogen compound, in particularthe ammonia (NH₃), in particular with the participation of at least onemetal, for example zinc (Zn).
 9. A method according to claim 4, whereinenergy is fed to at least one of the reaction chambers (30′, 40′).
 10. Adevice (100) for making available fuel in form of hydrogen (H₂), whereinat least one reaction unit (30) or reaction chamber for transferringwater (H₂O) by adding ozone (O3) as by means of at least one catalystinto an instable state and at least one separation unit (40) orseparation chamber placed behind or parallel to the reaction unit (30)or reaction chamber for splitting this instable water into oxygen andinto hydrogen acting as fuel.
 11. A device (100) for making availablefuel in form of hydrogen (H₂), wherein at least one reaction unit (30)or reaction chamber for transferring water (H₂O) by adding nitrogenoxide (NO_(x)) as well as zone (O₃) into an instable state and at leastone separation unit (40) or separation chamber placed behind or parallelto the reaction unit (30) or reaction chamber for splitting thisinstable water into oxygen (O2) and into hydrogen acting as fuel.
 12. Adevice according to claim 10, wherein at least one recirculation unit(50) or recirculation chamber, provided for withdrawing liquidconstituents from the fuel, is placed behind the separation unit (40) orseparation chamber, whereby the liquid constituents can be returned tothe reaction unit (30) or reaction chamber.
 13. A device (100′) formaking available at least one fuel or at least one fuel mixture, whereinat least one in particular second reaction chamber (40′) into which atleast one mixture of water (H₂O) and ammonium nitrite (NH₄NO₂) and/orammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) acting as reaction component can be fed asfuel or fuel mixture and in which air (Lu), oxygen (O₂) and/or ozone(O₃) can be supplied to this mixture being in an instable state due tocharge transfer.
 14. A device according to claim 13, wherein at leastone regulating or control device (32) assigned in particular to at leastone first reaction chamber (30′) by means of which the concentration ofthe ammonium nitrite (NH₄NO₂) and/or ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) in thewater (H₂O) can be adapted to the fuel needs, in particular of at leastone engine of a motor vehicle or can be varied depending on the fuelneeds, in particular of at least one engine of a motor vehicle.
 15. Adevice according to claim 13, wherein the first reaction chamber (30′)placed before the second reaction chamber (40′) is provided for mixingat least one nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particular nitrogen dioxide(NO₂), at least one hydrogen-nitrogen-oxygen compound, in particularnitrous acid (HNO₂) or nitric acid (HNO₃) and/or at least onenitrogen-hydrogen compound, in particular ammonia (NH₃), as well aswater (H₂O) by forming the mixture which is in an instable state due tocharge transfer and which acts as fuel or fuel mixture.
 16. A deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein energy can be fed to least one of thereaction chambers (30′; 40′).
 17. A device according to claim 10,wherein at least one gas generator unit (20) configured in particular intwo stages (20 a, 20 b) or in two parts (20 a′, 20 b′) is placed beforethe reaction unit (30) or the reaction chamber or the first reactionchamber (30′), gas generator unit in which, by using at least oneelectric switching circuit (22) provided for generating high voltage andassigned to or placed before the gas generator unit (20), nitrogen oxide(NO_(x)), in particular nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), as well as triatomicozone (O₃) can be produced.
 18. A device according to claim 10, whereinat least one source of energy (24), in particular a source of lowenergy, in particular in form of at least one voltage source of, forexample twelve volts, is assigned to or placed before the gas generatorunit (20) and/or the separation unit (40) or separation chamber orsecond reaction chamber (40′).
 19. A device according to claim 10,wherein at least one pump unit (60), in particular a fuel pump unit, isplaced behind the reaction unit (30) or the reaction chamber or thefirst reaction chamber (30′) and/or the recirculation unit (50) or therecirculation chamber, pump unit by means of which the fuel or theinstable water or the ammonium nitrite (NH₄NO₂) and/or the ammoniumnitrate (NH₄NO₃) can be pumped to at least one fuel cell and/or to atleast one fuel buffer store and/or to at least one fuel buffer store(70) or to the second reaction chamber (40′).
 20. Use of the fuelproduced according to the method according to claim 1 and/or by means ofat least one device (100 and/or 100′) according to claim 10 for drivingat least one combustion engine, for example an Otto engine, a dieselengine, a Wankel engine or the like assigned to a means of locomotion,in particular to a motor vehicle, and/or for driving at least one gasturbine and/or for making available as a fuel tank in at least one fuelcell and/or for heating purposes and/or for the use in at least onehydrogen combustion device.